Foot-operated guitar player



1941. 'w. c. sYLVESfER 2,251,472

FOOT-OPERATED GUITAR PLAYER Filed Aug. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l g- 5, 1941- w. c; SYLVESTER 2,251,472

FOO T-OPERATED GUITAR PLAYER Filed Aug. 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 49 A g. 5 19 1. w. c. SYLVESTER 2,251,412 FOOT-OPERATED GUITAR PLAYER Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug 7, 1939 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,251,472 FOOT-OPERATED GUITAR PLAYER Walter C. Sylvester, Greene, Maine 1939, Serial No. 288,724

Application August 7,

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to mechanically operated players for stringed musical instruments such as guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and the like, more especially to guitar and ukulele.

Among the more important objects of this invention is to provide a device to enable a person to play a guitar or ukelele for accompaniment in conjunction with another instrument played by hand. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device of this character which requires a minimum of physical effort and mental attention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture, neat in appearance, efiicient in operation, durable for service, excellent in tone quality, light in weight and convenient to carry.

Among the important advantages of a machine of this character is that the instrument may be fastened in playing position or removed from machine very quickly and easily and is complete- 1y adjustable to any ordinary sized instrument; also the instrument may be tuned without removing from the machine.

Comprised in this machine are means for holding the instrument securely inposition relative to the machine, means iorstopping or, pressing strings at the proper position to produce a desired tone when instrument is in correct tuning and when strings are plucked, meansfor producing a series of groups of tones or chords without making any change in the composition of the machine, such for plucking any one of the three bass strings, the three treble strings in .unison or all six strings at one stroke, either on the down stroke of the pick or on both the down and up strokes such means being operated and controlled by the right foot of the operator, stringsbeing selected by a slight movement oi'the right knee.

Notable in the construction of a device of this character is the pick which is made of leather or similar material in a folded position and having the quality of being smooth but comparatively soft and flexible so that when it plucks the string or strings no sound is produced by the pickitself, but due to the flexibility and smooth surface of the pick, the string is pressed in a horizontal direction and toward the body of I the instrument as the pick passes by it, therefore causing the string to vibrate toward and from the sound means including pedal operated by the left foot of the operator, means enclosed in a box-like frame .top.

hole instead of across, thereby producing a deeper, more pleasing tone.

Another notable feature is that the machine will fold up into one compact unit and can be for easy conveyance and iscomparatively light in weight and small in size. 1

The invention will'be fully understood by the following specifications when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plainview of-the fret control mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a back'elevational view of the fret control mechanism partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational View of chord insert and insert holder and a sectional end View of push I rods.

Fig. 4 is a side viewof instrument support located near the base of the machine.

Fig. 5is instrument holder located at-top oi machine.

Fig. 6 is knee control attachmentlocated at Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view of pick control mechanism. I .Fig. Sis a sectional side which pick arm travels.

Fig. 9 is back or inside plain view of pick arm view of runway in runway with pick arm inposition.

Fig. 10 isback or. operators plete machine. I

In the invention herein illustrated by ac.- companying drawings, the so-called nut oi the instrument or that portion of the neck which holds the strings in the proper position, is held securely against the bumper [8 by clamp which plain view of comis designed to receive a portion of the neck and .ishinged at the bottom end, the top end being held in place by awinged nut and threaded pin 2 IA. Member generally designated in Fig. 5 is inserted in socket TI to hold the top side oithe body of theinstrument againstthe stop 16.

The bottom side of the instrument is supported by members generally designated in Fig. 4 consisting of a tube or pipe 23 with two nuts 24 at one end which are tightened onto frame to hold securely in position. The inside of tube 23 is designed to receive a square shaft 25 which will slide in and outbut will not turn nor twist. Means designed to receive'the bodyof the instrument, illustrated at '21 is attached to the end of shaft 25by.nuts 28. Adjustable nut 28 holds shaft 25 from sliding too far into tube 23,

thereby holding the instrument too close to the pick. Shaft 25 is held securely in position in pipe 23 by thumbscrew 29 which may be tightened after shaft 25 is inserted.

strings, forcing them onto frets adjacent the fingers. There is one pushrod designated for each finger, being six rows of fingers, one row for each string and as many in a row as the number of frets to be controlled.

Pushrods l3 have fiat places |3A cut in them on top and bottom and about one inch apart. These fiat places are about one-half inch long for chord insert member l3 ahead or to the left, thus forcing finger tip l2 onto string; but where there are no projections 22B the slot in insert 22 is wide enough to pass by the shoulder and leave pushrod in natural position, thus the chord insert is different chords different inserts are used. The fiat surfaces or cut-outs are made one-half inch long to allow push rod to be moved to left foot, such provisions being at the left end of L shaped insert holders. Pins 86 are located between each contact surface in such a position Fig. 7, Sheet 2 illustrates the picking mechanism. Pick 3| is of soft and smooth finished leather or similar material folded and mounted on pick arm 33 by bolt 32 in such a position as to allow flat surface of pick 3| to contact with the strings, the folding of the leather for the pick being to form a blunt surface for the string to slide off from when picked, this having a tendency to press string toward the body of the instrument, causing string to vibrate in and out of sound hole instead of across, therefore producing a deeper tone than would be produced by an ordinary pick which pulls the string down and snaps off suddenly.

Pick arm 33 is mounted on a sliding member 34 by a hinge joint at the bottom and means comprising a rocker 35 pivotly attached at the center by rivet 36 to the top end of sliding member 34.

prevents the same from becoming too far apart. Compression spring 46 holds pick arm 33 and rocker 35 apart unless contrary pressure is applied.

Therefore, when the control arm 37 is pushed upward, instantly the top of the rocker 35 is pulled back and thus the pick arm and pick which are connected by means including a upward stroke. When the direction of control arm 31 is reversed and starts downward, thus pushing top of rocker 35 ahead or toward the instrument, pick 3| contacts with the strings of the instrument. Stop 42 prevents pick arm from going too far ahead.

Roller 47 is similar to tire mounted at or when a hollow or in said track; spring 46 holds pick 41 against corduroy track Fig. 8.

' pluck the strings or string on clip is made arm and roller Therefore, if track 48 which is attached at the bottom to the ways or means for holding this above named position.

of L shaped lever 50 which is pivotly attached at the upper corner to the frame, the lower end eld against roller 49 down with track 48.

lowering the toe of the right but if it is eighth notes or two notes in the place of one using the up stroke, the toe is held down and the heel raised and lowered for that particular note or notes; but if the whole piece is to be played faster in out time the .thumb screw 48A may be tightened, thus holding pick onto strings at both the up and'down strokes and the pick may be actuated by the toe as usual.

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show the construction of the corduroy runway or track in which roller 41 runs. The track or runway is constructed of flat pieces of'metal or slats 56 forming the surface and these slats are slidably located on. pins 51 and held against frame by springs 58. The holes in slats 56 are large enough to allow'tipping as rollers 59 pass over them and press them flat against frame when rollers 59 are not in contact with them.

Rollers 59 are mounted on .movableframe 60 and are held against slats 56by other and smaller grooved rollers 6| which also are mounted on frame 60 and roll on tracks 62. Rollers 59 as they pass over slats 56 press them down. and make a dip or hollow in the runway. This dip corresponds to one string, that is to say when roller'41 passes over this dip the pick is allowed to pick a certain string provided that the dip is in the proper place. This dip is movable from one string to another by moving frame 60 and therefore, rollers 59 controlling onlythe three base strings. The threetreble strings are almost always played together in playing chords, therefore provisions are made as follows: When frame 60 and rollers 59 are pulled down as far as possible rollers 59 press the top end of plate 63 in or away from this frame and at the same time rollers 64 which are also attached to frame 60 press the lower end in. Plate 63 is constructed to receive rollers 64 at this time and at no other time are rollers 64 used.

The corduroy track assembly is hinged at the top to allow the same to be moved away from pick arm 33 and roller '41, thus six note chords may be played. The bottom of the assembly is held to frame by means comprising springs 65 and bolt 65A, one on each side of the track assembly. Spring 65 and bolt 65A hold the track assembly in normal position unless lever 66, shown in Fig. 10, is pulled down, thereby pulling the track assembly away from the frame of the machine and also the pick arm 33. Therefore roller 41 does not bear onytrack and the pick is allowed to come in contact with the strings during the entire stroke.

Frame 60, on which rollers 59, 6| and 64 are mounted, is controlled by means including an L. shaped piece 61, which is pivotly attached to frame at the corner and to movable frame 60 at the upper right end and to connectinglink 69 at the lower left end. Link69 is also attached to control arm 68 which, in turn, is securely fastened to shaft shown in Fig. '7. Shaft has a hearing at the bottom end on the base of the machine and one near the top 15, thus holding shaft securely but allowing'it to turn. A ball and socket connects arm 68 and link-69 to allow them to move freely.

Member. 11, Fig. 6, which is instantly detachable, is attached to the upper end ofshaft 10 and extending toward the. operator and is designed to receive the knee or a portion of the leg; thus when the knee is moved slightly from side to side, a turning or twisting motion is encountered on shaft 10, thereby moving arm 68 in the same manner. L shaped lever 61, being connected by link 69 at the lower end, is moved also, but the .as it passes up and down.

pletely controlled by the foot.

.pins- 86 which upper right .end which is connected to frame 60,

moves up and-down instead of from side to side, because of the L shaped construction, thereby moving frame'68 and the attached rollers up or down.

L shaped member 61 is equipped with a roller 12 which rolls on the track or arm 13. This arm is designed with notches for roller 12 to stop in Spring 14 is connected to the frame and also to arm 13 to hold arm 13 tight against roller 12; thus, due to the spring quality of member 1| the. knee may be moved slightly without moving frame 60. In other words, the knee does not have to be in the exact position to enable the operator to strike a certain string, but if the knee is moved sufficiently to one side, roller 12 will roll over the point on arm. 13 and fall into the next notch, thereby allowing the pick to strike the next string.

Number 16 is an adjustable stop to hold the instrument in the correct position in relation to the pick. The right foot of the operator is securely fixed to pedal 18 by straps or other device to insure that the action of the pedal 18 is com- Pedal 18 is pivotly attached to members by rivets or bolts 19 and is so constructed that the lever 52 may be held down by the toe and the heel raised and still have the same effect on control arm 31, as if the heel were held down and the toe raised. Members 80 are pivotly attached adjacent the floor of the machine by rivets or bolts 8| and also to control arm 31; the comparative distance from points 19 to 8| is much shorter than from 19 to the control arm 31. This is to reduce the travelling distance of the foot.

The left foot is to be attached to pedal 82, which is hinged at 83 and is pivotly attached at 84 and is equipped with a roller 85 which has a surface of leather or some soft material. This roller is designed to roll along on shelf-like portions of chord arms located at the base of the machine in Fig. 10 between which are located prevent the roller 85 from pressing two shelf-like portions of chord arms at the same time. The roller and therefore the pedal 82 has to be raised over the pins 86 before a change of chords can be made.

Members-81am designed to receive straps to attach the pedals t0 the feet.

The floor of the machine or that portion which supports the pedals is hinged to the base of the machine proper by bolts 98 and is held securely in place by braces 88 and 89. These braces will fold up, therefore allowing the floor of the machine and pedals also to be folded into a vertical position, therefore, requiring very little space when not in use. The machine may be enclosed in a neatly appearing box which may serve as a part of the frame.

Itis apparent that modifications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof, such as the design of the pedals and other parts of the machine, materials used in construction, means for folding.

It is understood that this invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing and description. Therefore, suchmodificationsmay be made as do not alter the spirit of the invention or exceed the appending claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for playing a stringed musical instrument a mechanism for stopping the strings including a group of fingers pivotly attached to a frame and arranged adjacent the strings of the instrument each occupying a position relative to a certain string at a certain fret of said instrument, a group of pushrods equal in number to said group of fingers and arranged in a position to actuate said group of fingers individually, a series of plate holders movably held adjacent said pushrods and designed to receive a plate fitted to the same, a group of levers pivotly attached to the base of frame and a pedal.

2. In a machine for playing stringed musical instruments a mechanism for stopping the strings including a group of fingers with tips insulated with rubber, leather or the like and being pivotly mounted on a frame in a uniform manner, each said finger tip being in a position relative to and opposite a certain string at a certain fret, an equal number of pushrods arranged in a position to actuate said group of fingers, each pushrod having a plurality of shoulders spaced an equal distance apart, a spring associated with each pushrod and finger, a series of plate holders movably held adjacent said group of pushrods and designed to receive a plate of certain dimensions an unlimited number of said plates, a series of levers pivotly attached to the base of the frame and associated with said plate holders and a pedal pivotly attached to the frame of the machine.

3. In a machine for playing stringed musical instruments mechanism for actuating fingers for stopping the strings including a group of pushrods arranged in a uniform manner to correspond to the arrangement of fingers, each pushrod having shoulders spaced an equal distance apart, a. series of plate holders identically the same in shape and size, movably supported adjacent said group of pushrods, a plurality of plate inserts interchangeable one with another, a series of levers pivotly attached to the base of the frame and associated with said plate holder supports, a pin between each lever and a pedal having a roller at the end.

4. In a machine for playing stringed musical instruments means for picking the strings including a pick arm supporting a pick at the upper end and having a roller mounted thereon and being pivotly attached to a slidable member at the lower end, a rocker also attached to said slidable member and connected to said pick arm, a pedal pivotly mounted and associated with said rocker and pickarm by means including an arm and a connecting link.

5. In a machine for playing stringed musical instruments means for picking the strings including a pick mounted on a pickarm, said pickarm being pivotly attached to a slidable member supported in an upright position, a friction associated therewith, a rocker also pivotly attached to said slidable member and connected to said pickarm, a pedal pivotly mounted on a frame suitable for a machine of this type and associated with said pickarm and rocker by means including an arm and connecting link.

6. In a machine for playing stringed musical instrument, means for picking the desired string or strings including a pick mounted on and controlled by a pickarm, said pickarm being pivotly attached to a slidable member and having a roller thereon, said slidable member being supported in a vertical position and associated with a friction, a rocker pivotly attached to said slidable member and also connected to said pickarm by means including a link and a spring, a runway for previously mentioned roller on pickarm, having a changeable surface, means for changing the surface thereof including rollers mounted on a slidable frame and a lever adapted to the knee of a human being, means for actuating said pickarm and rocker including a pedal pivotly mounted on a frame suitable for a machine of this type, an arm and a connecting member.

7. In a machine for playing stringed musical instruments, means for selecting the string or strings to be picked including a runway for a roller mounted on a pickarm, said runway having a changeable surface, means for changing said surface including a slidable frame having rollers mounted thereon, a lever pivotly attached to the frame of the machine and being adapted to the knee of the human being and also being connected to said slidable frame by an arm and a connecting link.

8. In a machine for playing stringed instruments, means for selecting the string or strings to be picked including a frame, a runway for a roller on a pickarm, said runway being pivotly attached to the frame of the machine, means for controlling the position of said runway including springs and a lever, said runway consisting sections arranged horizontally and in parallel, each section being supported individually by pins and springs; means for changing the surface of said runway including a frame slidably and securely held in a vertical position close to said runway and having rollers mounted thereon, means for moving said frame and rollers to a desired position including a lever adapted to the knee of a human being and connected to said slidable frame by means including an arm and a connecting link, said lever being pivotly attached to the frame of the machine; a notched member associated with a roller, notches being spaced relative to the spacing of the strings of the instrument.

9. In a machine for playing stringed musical instruments, means for picking the desired string or strings including a pick mounted on a pickarm, said pickarm being pivotly attached to a slidable member, a rocker also attached pivotly to said associated with said slidable member, said pickarm and slidable member being supported in an upright position, a roller mounted on said rocker, a movable track adjacent said roller, means for controlling said track by hand including a thumb screw, and by foot including a lever, a connecting link and a spring; a pedal pivotly attached to the frame of the machine and associated with said pickarm and rocker by means including an arm and connecting link, and also with a track for a roller which is mounted on said rocker, by means of last named lever; a roller mounted on said pickarm, a runway for said roller having a mutable surface, and being pivotly attached to the frame of the machine; means for controlling arm and a connecting link.

WALTER C. SYLVESTER. 

